Pusher ram and quench car travel synchronization system

ABSTRACT

An electrical pulsing unit in the pusher ram drive emits a pulse for every preselected incremental distance traveled by the ram from the face of the oven at the start of the push to the completion of the push. The pulses are received in the quench car locomotive and are converted to signals that show the position of the ram during its travel. The quench car has a similar pulsing unit, and pulses from this unit are converted to signals that show the position of the quench car. The quench car locomotive operator can then coordinate the signals to achieve proper coke distribution in the quenching car.

United States Patent Krenke July 29, 1975 [5 PUSHER RAM AND QUENCH CARTRAVEL 839,650 6/1960 United Kingdom 202/262 SYNCHRONIZATION SYSTEM537,244 4/1955 Belgium 202/262 [75] Inventor: Vincent G. Krenke,Pittsburgh, Pa. Primary Examiner Norman Yudkoff [73] Assignee: KoppersCompany Inc., Pittsburgh, Assistant Examiner-D, Sanders Pa. Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Sherman H. Barber; Olin E. [22] Filed: July 20 1973Williams; Oscar B. Brumback [21] Appl. No.: 381,363 [57] ABSTRACT 52U.S. c1. 202/262; 201/1; 202/227; An electrical pulsing unit in thePusher ram drive 214/23 emits a pulse for every preselected incrementaldis- 51 1m. (:1. C10B 35/00; C10B 47/00 fiance traveled y the ram fromthe face Of the even at [58] Field of Search 202/262, 227, 228, 229, theStart of the P to the completion of the P 202/230, 263, 270', 214/23;201/] The pulses are received in the quench car locomotive and areconverted to signals that show the position of [56] References Cited theram during its travel. The quench car has a similar UNITED STATESPATENTS pulsing unit, and pulses from this unit are converted to signalsthat show the position of the quench car. The 2223 quench car locomotiveoperator can then coordinate l'l 3,304,241 2/1967 Radcliffe et al. 202262 gl j iig g proper coke the FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 816,1147/1959 United Kingdom 202 262 6 Clam, 2 Drawmg guns 3. S PUSHER Eaz/s/vu/ an MACH/NE Q Lam/warms FUSl-IERR/IM ts I MNE E 7 OPENW/lEA/BOTH INDICATORS 4 1415;212:2422 B L V niqm' 21 I I r 1 :hPUSHERRAM I LP/30.3 Liana i PULSE/2 I II'RESE- L F [ME 71g) P03 1., yPRS-i I RD-|5 RSI $272 550 i #5551 I x :1 M112 :5,; I g I 1 PRU-4 FRDM070}? *w 3 I R5 I PUSHERRAM J. cauEc-ro/zRA/Ls I |2sa-/ 574 f AD 0 1* NMale/170k user 3;

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PUSI-IER RAM AND QUENCH CAR TRAVEL SYNCI-IRONIZATION SYSTEM BRIEFSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION LII which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofa system in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic electrical diagram of a system inaccordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a similar electrical diagram of an automatic quench carcontrol associated with the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In general, the system of the present invention, asrepresented by the embodiment shown in the electrical diagrams of FIGS.1 and 2, operates to allow the quench car locomotive operator todetermine the position of the quench car in relation to the position ofthe pusher ram at any moment during the push and in relation to theamount of coke pushed from an oven.

The system of the invention may best be understood by referring to FIGS.1 and 2 and the description of the sequence of events during a pushingcycle.

The pusher ram operator causes the ram to move toward the face of anoven to be pushed; it is understood, of course, that the pusher and cokeside doors have previously been removed, that the pushing ram and cokeguide equipment are aligned, and that all else is in order to commencepushing. At the face of the oven on the pusher side, limit switch LSl-lcloses when the ram contacts the cam limit switch. The pusher ram pulserunit PUI has been activated and, when LSl-l closes, relay RD-l isenergized; closing the circuit to a transmitter.

A pusher ram drive control contact PF-l has been previously closed,since it is in the ram forward drive circuit. Pusher ram drive controlcontact PR-l remains inactive; but, it would be actuated and closedshould the pusher ram operator need to reverse the direction of movementof the ram for any reason after the ram has moved part way into theoven.

A signal is then sent from the transmitter through the collector railsof the pusher machine and quench car locomotive to a receiver in thequench car locomotive. Whereupon, the RD-3 signal path in the receivernormally open, closes. Also the forward movement contact PF-3, alsonormally open, closes, since the ram is moving forward in the oven.

When contact RD-3 closes, relay PRD-l is energized and closes a circuitto a stepping motor STP on the pushing ram. The signal carried by the RDcircuit is a steady signal; whereas, the signal carried by each of thePF and PR circuits is a pulsing signal.

When the pusher ram has moved into the oven far enough to deposit enoughcoke in the end of the quench car. the quench car locomotive will bestarted. Pulser PU2, located on the quench car. is energized and contactCF in the forward drive circuit closes, thereby completing a circuit toa stepping motor STQ.

Both stepping motor STP and stepping motor STQ continue to receivepulses and the respective pusher ram and the quench car indicators willshow the relative positions of the pusher ram and the quench car. Thepusher ram and the quench car continue to move in their respective waysuntil one of several things occurs to stop the operations.

When the pusher ram reaches the end of its stroke. limit switch LSl-2opens under the influence of a pusher ram cam, and shuts off all signalsto and through the transmitter. Relay PRD-l is de-energized and closesand energizes a circuit to the reset relay RS. It is possible also tomanually operate the reset relay to accomplish the same thing.

Should either stepping motor STP or stepping motor STQ move to itsmaximum position ahead of time, the stepping motor that is aheadactivates RS-2 by limit switches LSP-3 and LSQ-3. Relays PRS-l and QRS-Iare energized, whereupon the reset motor starts which drives resetpulser PU3. Pulser PU3 sends pulses to both stepping motors STP and STQ,but in the reverse direction to reset the respective indicators.

The stepping motors continue to turn until the indicators return totheir original starting positions. Where- 'upon, LSQ-l and LSP-l openand, simultaneously,

when both indicators are reset, relay R5-2 is deenergized. The pulsermotor is stopped and reset pulser PU3 is disconnected from the resetcircuits.

When the pusher ram has traveled its full stroke and makes contact withlimit switch LSl-2, a light indicator and horn sound in the control cabof the pushing machine. This alerts the pushing machine operator whothen reverses the movement of the pusher ram and retracts it from theoven.

In like manner, when the quench car locomotive operator sees a light andhears a horn sound as the reset operations take place, he knows that thepushing operation is completed and he then manually activates thelocomotive controls to move the quenching car to the quenching station.

All is now ready for the next push. The foregoing describes how thequench car indicator and the pusher ram indicator operate whether thequench car movement is controlled manually by an operator orautomatically. If an automatic drive system or electrical circuit isused to move the quench car at a rate of speed that is comparable to therate at which the coke is being pushed by the pusher ram, then thefollowing operation takes place.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the pusher ram is moving forward and thepusher ram pulser PUl is emitting signals, relay P1X of FIG. 2 will sendpulses to STQF (stepping motor); the circuit of FIG. 2 being connectedto that of FIG. I at the lines A and B. In like manner, when the quenchcar is moving and the pulser PU2 is emitting signals, relay QIX willalso send pulses to STOP.

Pulses from P1X relay will cause forward movement of the stepping motorand pulses from QlX will cause quench car at a slow speed to catch coke.lf PlX relay pulses faster than QlX relay, then STQF will move forwardat a rate controlled by the difference in the pulses of the two relays.Then, the pusher ram is pushing coke faster than the quench car iscatching coke.

Under this condition, STQF moves the cam limit switch onto step 2F speedcontrol of the quench car, which allows 01X to catch up to the rate ofpulsing of relay P1X and to overtake it perhaps.

In this instance STQF will begin to receive more reverse pulses anddrive the rotary cam limit switch from the higher second control speed(2F) of the quench car to again effect a balance.

QlX may overtake and get ahead of P1X relay and then drive STQF in areverse direction. This will shut off the power supply to the quench carmomentarily until a balance is again restored between the pulsingrelays. Ideally, the speed of the quench car will be equal to the speedof the pushing ram.

Resetting of the stepping motor STQF and cam limit switch may beaccomplished in the same manner as stepping motors STP and STQ by makinga connection to these circuits at the proper points.

From the foregoing description .of one embodiment of the invention,those skilled in the art should recognize many important features andadvantages of it, among which the following are particularlysignificant:

That the pusher ram and quench car travel synchronization system of thepresent'invention operates automatically, thereby reducing significantlythe usual human error problem in synchronizing the activity on oppositesides of a coke oven battery;

That the system is simple to construct, but yet is effective and easy toinstall.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degreeof particularity it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only as an example and that the scope of the invention is definedby what is hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

l. A system for synchronizing the travel of a pusher ram in a coke ovenchamber with the travel of a coke quenching car receiving hot coke fromthe oven chamber and propelled by a locomotive relative to such ovenchamber, wherein the improvement comprises:

a. switch means activated by said pusher ram as it moves toward and intoan oven chamber to be pushed and closing an electrical circuit;

b. a pulse transmitter in said circuit which is activated when saidswitch means closes that emits pulses;

c. electrical receiver means in said locomotive that receives saidemitted pulses and thereafter energizes an electrical circuit whereinthere is d. a first stepping motor that actuates said pusher ram in astep-by-step manner responsive to the received pulses and circuitenergization;

e. a pulser in said quenching car that is energized by a signal emittedby said receiver;

f. a second stepping motor that is energized by said pulser and thatmoves said quenching car in a stepby-step manner in sequence with saidpusher ram;

and

g. indicator means in said locomotive that is responsive to theactuation of said stepping motors and indicates the relative positionsof the pushing ram and the quenching car. I

2. The invention of claim 1 including:

a. means actuated by said pusher ram at the end of its stroke forde-energizing said circuitry; and

b. a reset pulser energized by said means that sends electrical pulsesignals to both of said indicators whereby they are reset to initialpositions.

3. The invention of claim 2 including:

a. switch means, actuated when said indicators return to the initialposition, that de-energize a power circuit to said pulse transmitter.

4. A system for synchronizing thetravel'ofa pusher ram in a coke ovenchamber with the travel of a coke quenching car receiving hot coke fromthe oven chamber and propelled by a locomotive relative to such ovenchamber, wherein the improvement comprises:

a. switch means activated by said pusher ram as it moves toward and intoan oven chamber to be pushed that closes an electrical circuit;

b. a first pulser energized when said switch closes that emits pulsesignals as said pusher ram moves into said oven chamber;

c. a first stepping motor actuated to turn in one direction responsivelyto said pulse signals;

d. a second pulser that emits pulse signals as said quench car receivescoke pushed from said oven chamber and moves relative thereto; and

e. means sending electrical signals from said second pulser to saidstepping motor whereby said stepping motor turns in a direction oppositeto saidone direction, said stepping motor being so constructed that itdoes not rotate when the pulse signals from said first and said secondpulsers are equal in number during any period of time.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein:..

a. said stepping motor rotates in a direction to move said quench car ata fasterrate of speed when the number or pulses received from saidsecond pulser is less for said period of time than the number of pulsesreceived from said first pulser; and wherein;

b. said stepping motor, when it receives more pulses from said secondpulser than from said first pulser, actuates a rotary cam limit switchto effect control of the speed of said quench car, to thereby effect abalance of position between the quench car and the pusher ram. I

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein:

a. said stepping motor. whenit receives more pulses from said firstpulser than from said pulser actuates a rotary cam limit switch toeffect control of the speed of the quench car to thereby effect abalance between the quench car and the pusher ram.

1. A SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING THE TRAVEL OF A PUSHER RAM IN A COKE OVENCHAMBER WITH THE TRAVEL OF A COKE QUENCHING CAR RECEIVING HOT COKE FROMTHE OVEN CHAMBER AND PROPELLED BY A LOCOMOTIVE RELATIVE TO SUCH OVENCHAMBER, WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES: A. SWITCH MEANS ACTIVATED BYSAID PUSHER RAM AS IT MOVES TOWARD AND INTO AN OVEN CHAMBER TO BE PUSHEDAND CLOSING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, B. A PULSE TRANSMITTER IN SAIDCIRCUIT WHICH IS ACTIVATED WHEN SAID SWITCH MEANS CLOSES THAT EMITSPULSES, C. ELECTRICAL RECEIVER MEANS IN SAID LOCOMOTIVE THAT RECEIVESSAID EMITTED PULSES AND THEREAFTER ENERGIZES AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUITWHEREIN THERE IS D. A FIRST STEPPING MOTOR THAT ACTUATES SAID PUSHER RAMIN A STEP-BY-STEP MANNER RESPONSIVE TO THE RECEIVED PULSES AND CIRCUITENERGIZATION, E. A PULSER IN SAID QUENCHING CAR THAT IS ENERGIXED BY ASIGNAL EMITTED BY SAID RECEIVER, F. A SECOND STEPPING MOTOR THAT ISENERGIZED BY SAID PULSER AND THAT MOVES SAID QUENCHING CAR IN ASTEP-BY-STEP MANNER IN SEQUENCE WITH SAID PUSHER RAM, AND G. INDICATORMEANS IN SAID LOCO,OTIVE THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE ACTUATION OF SAIDSTEPPING MOTORS AND INDICATES THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PUSHING RAMAND THE QUENCHING CAR.
 2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. meansactuated by said pusher ram at the end of its stroke for de-energizingsaid circuitry; and b. a reset pulser energized by said means that sendselectrical pulse signals to both of said indicators whereby they arereset to initial positions.
 3. The invention of claim 2 including: a.switch means, actuated when said indicators return to the initialposition, that de-energize a power circuit to said pulse transmitter. 4.A system for synchronizing the travel of a pusher ram in a coke ovenchamber with the travel of a coke quenching car receiving hot coke fromthe oven chamber and propelled by a locomotive relative to such ovenchamber, wherein the improvement comprises: a. switch means activated bysaid pusher ram as it moves toward and into an oven chamber to be pushedthat closes an electrical circuit; b. a first pulser energized when saidswitch closes that emits pulse signals as said pusher ram moves intosaid oven chamber; c. a first stepping motor actuated to turn in onedirection responsively to said pulse signals; d. a second pulser thatemits pulse signals as said quench car receives coke pushed from saidoven chamber and moves relative thereto; and e. means sending electricalsignals from said second pulser to said stepping motor whereby saidstepping motor turns in a direction opposite to said one direction, saidstepping motor being so constructed that it does not rotate when thepulse signals from said first and said second pulsers are equal innumber during any period of time.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein:a. said stepping motor rotates in a direction to move said quench car ata faster rate of speed when the number or pulses received from saidsecond pulser is less for said period of time than the number of pulsesreceived from said first pulser; and wherein; b. said stepping motor,when it receives more pulses from said second pulser than from saidfirst pulser, actuates a rotary cam limit switch to effect control ofthe speed of said quench car, to thereby effect a balance of positionbetween the quench car and the pusher ram.
 6. The invention of claim 4wherein: a. said steping motor, when it receives more pulses from saidfirst pulser than from said pulser actuates a rotary cam limit switch toeffect control of the speed of the quench car to thereby effect abalance between the quench car and the pusher ram.